Month: March 2013

Wise and encouraging words from a good friend who lives out what he believes!

“The first question that is usually asked, by well meaning people, after being informed that one intends to go and proclaim the Gospel in a dangerous area is, “But is it Safe to go now“?
The first question that should be asked, “Is God not a Sovereign Omnipotent“?

The question is, “Are we willing to trust the plan of God even when it doesn’t include our deliverance?Can we trust the loving providence of God even when He ordains we bring glory to His name through pain and even death”? (Emphasis -J.L.)
The Great Commission is not linked to “safety”, rather it is linked to His sovereignty.”

There are very few video interviews that have been made with Joseph Kony. He and his army, the LRA, are now greatly reduced and on the run. I pray they are caught soon!

Reaching Africa’s Unreached is working in the heart of the area he once terrorized. True and lasting healing can only be found in the person of Jesus Christ. Pray for us and help us if you can as we seek to show the the love of Jesus in Word AND Deed to the people of North Uganda, South Sudan, and Northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo!

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Matthew 28:18-20

“Saving souls can be likened to a man drowning in a deep well and avolunteer can do nothing unless there are people who will hold the rope for himto be lowered till he reaches the drowning man, and then pull them up tosafety… I will go to India as a volunteer to seeksinners drowning in the well of Sin. But I can’t do it alone. I need ropeholders.” William Carey~ Father of Modern Missions

What is the antidote to materialism? Generosity. Easily sharing the things we have, and giving money and possessions away reminds us that they are temporal and God-given. It helps us hold them loosely and treasure Christ more than riches. Last week I posted on the dangers of materialism and this week I wanted to follow that up with another list from Randy Alcorn’s book on giving (Money, Possessions and Eternity). I’ll just give you a snippet of his paragraphs, if you want more you’ll have to find the book….

Give. Christians give. There are no exceptions. Not all will give the same, but all will give (2 Cor 9:7)

Give Worshipfully. Giving should be rooted in “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Cor 9:15).

Give Proportionately. ‘In God’s sight, my giving is measured not by how much I have given, but by how much I could have given and how much I had left after I made my gift.’ (quoting Tozer)

Give Quietly. “Be careful not to let your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them” (Mt 6:1).

We need to hear this -not because the church needs more money, but because our hearts need more pruning. We don’t talk much about money, but it is one of the areas we most need to be challenged to better reflect Christ’s generosity and to cultivate a longing for heavenly treasure.